Social responsibility
As an occupational health and safety service provider, we have access to a wealth of expertise and data. “We have a responsibility to society to put these data to good use for the working people of the Netherlands,” says Robin Kok, who is involved in the research as Senior Consultant R&D with HumanTotalCare. “This research will allow us to provide positive momentum to the participation of people with autism in the labour market. Ultimately, this will lead to a more inclusive labour market where everyone’s talent is welcome.”
Sander Begeer is a researcher and professor at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and is heading the study. In his view, ‘Autism Works’ is intended to respond to a challenging task that affects a large number of people. “A lot of people with autism are out of work, while the Netherlands is actually experiencing a shortage of employees. What do people with autism need to allow them to work and keep working? What kinds of approaches exist and how can they be used more often and more effectively across the country?”
Uniting science and practice
Occupational Physician Hanneke Kerkhof (HumanCapitalCare) initiated the project together with Sander: “In the consulting room, I often see people with autism who are no longer able to work due to mental complaints. In many cases, this would not have been necessary if the working conditions and the scope of tasks had been more in line with what these employees need,” explains Hanneke. “That can be frustrating for employees and employers. ‘Autism Works’ will allow us to provide tools to better showcase the qualities that people with autism bring to the table. For this reason, representatives with autism have also been involved in the design and implementation of the study from day one.”
Harnessing existing data
The study will use existing data from HumanTotalCare, among other channels. Shay Toloo Anjom, Junior Consultant R&D: “We will be exploring whether we can use existing data to make predictions about employment rates among employed people with autism. In doing so, we will be using data from cooperation partners NAR, Nivel and CBS in addition to our own data. These kinds of predictions help to gain a broader and more nuanced picture of people with autism in relation to the labour market.”
Launch
As the host organisation, HumanTotalCare welcomed all of the partners involved to join forces in the official launch of ‘Autism Works’ this past summer. Hanneke: “By coming together on this issue, we are aiming to create a breakthrough in the labour market in terms of the participation of people with autism. With this goal in mind, and in collaboration with our partners – and experts by experience – we will start the research in the near future.”
About the ‘Autism Works’ study
The Dutch Research Council (NWO) has awarded a €1.3 million grant to the ‘Autism Works’ project as part of the ‘Participating in the Labour Market’ research programme. The duration will be six years.
‘Autism Works’ is an initiative from a large, interdisciplinary consortium, including collaboration between science and practice. The key partners involved are: Vereniging van Autisme Ambassadeurs (VAA), Stichting Vanuit Autisme Bekeken (VAB), The Netherlands Autism Register, HumanTotalCare, AWVN/De Normaalste Zaak, CNV Jongeren, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, University Medical Centre Groningen, Utrecht University and Amsterdam UMC. Other stakeholders include the Dutch Autism Association, absence insurance providers, UWV and various employers and employer organisations. The project will establish a learning community for stakeholders to contribute ideas and to participate in a range of sub-studies.
More information on the ‘Autism Works’ study can be found at www.autismenetwerkt.nl.